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After your treatment
Before & aftercare
Good before and aftercare helps determine how your skin recovers and what the treatment achieves. Choose your treatment below to see what to expect and what to do and avoid.
How long will you notice the treatment?
From short to long, so you can pick a moment that suits your diary. Click for the before and aftercare of the treatment.
Forma
None to a few hours
A few hours of redness and warmth. Straight back to work
SkinPen
About 1 day
Red and warm, about 1 day. Dry, flaking skin may follow
Morpheus8
1 to 2 days
Redness, usually gone within 24 hours. Dots and dry skin for a few days
Chemical peel
Up to 7 days, depending on the peel
Depends on the strength. Light peel: only mild redness. Medium: 3 to 5 days of peeling. Strong: 5 to 7 days of peeling
Tixel
About 1 week
Straight after the treatment your skin feels warm and tight, as after a day in the sun. After 2 days your skin starts to peel in a fine grid pattern, for about a week
IPL & laser
2 days to 2 weeks
Redness, swelling, light scabs. Pigment first darkens and then flakes off
Skin lesion removal
Differs per lesion, days to weeks
Differs per lesion. Often first darker, then a scab or small blister, for a few days to weeks
Preparation and aftercare at a glance
Per treatment: what you do beforehand and which rules apply afterwards.
Retinol, acids (such as glycolic, salicylic and lactic acid), arbutin and self-tanner are also called active ingredients. They irritate the skin. If it says "do not use", skip these products during that period. Plain, mild skincare is usually fine.
| Treatment | Preparation | Keeping your skin dry | Hot showers, sauna, swimming and intense exercise | Sun and sunbeds | Retinol, acids and self-tanner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkinPen | No retinol, acids or self-tanner for 3 days before | Keep dry and do not wash for the first 24 hours | Not for the first 48 hours | Avoid for the first 4 weeks after the treatment | Use again after 1 week |
| Chemical peel | No retinol, acids or self-tanner for 3 days before | Not for the first 24 to 48 hours | Avoid for the first 4 weeks after the treatment | Use again after 1 week | |
| Tixel | No retinol, acids or self-tanner for 3 days before | Keep dry and do not wash for the first 24 hours | Not for the first 24 to 48 hours | Avoid for the first 4 weeks after the treatment | Use again after 1 week |
| IPL & laser | No retinol, acids or self-tanner for 3 days before | Not for the first 24 to 48 hours | Avoid for the first 4 weeks after the treatment | Use again after 1 week | |
| Skin lesion removal | No retinol, acids or self-tanner for 3 days before | Allowed, as long as you do not scratch or rub the spot | Avoid for the first 4 weeks after the treatment | On the treated spot, use again after 1 week | |
| Morpheus8 | No retinol, acids or self-tanner for 3 days before | Keep dry and do not wash for the first 24 hours | Not for the first 48 hours | Avoid for the first 4 weeks after the treatment | Use again after 1 week |
| Forma | No special preparation | No hot showers, baths or sauna for the rest of the day | Avoid for the first 4 weeks after the treatment | Carry on as normal |
For every treatment
These rules apply to almost every treatment. The page for your treatment gives the exact time frames.
- You can simply arrive wearing make-up. We remove it at the practice before the treatment.
- Do not pick or scratch the treated skin, and avoid rough rubbing.
- For the first 24 to 48 hours, avoid intense exercise, hot showers, baths and saunas.
- For the first 4 weeks after the treatment, stay out of the sun as much as possible. Use SPF 30 to 50, wear a cap or hat and reapply the SPF every two hours. You do not need to avoid the sun before the treatment.
- Do not use products with active ingredients, such as self-tanning creams, retinol, arbutin, glycolic acid, salicylic acid and lactic acid, for 3 days before the treatment. This does not apply to Forma. After the treatment, leave them out for 1 week.
- Do you have questions or an unwanted reaction? Contact your therapist by phone, e-mail or WhatsApp.
When should you contact us?
Red, warm or flaking skin is part of recovery. Contact us if you notice any of the following:
- The pain increases or persists instead of fading.
- The redness or swelling increases after a few days instead of decreasing.
- You see pus or yellow or green crusts, or you develop a fever. These can be signs of an infection.
- Blisters or open areas appear that are not described in the recovery on your page.
You can reach us by phone, e-mail or WhatsApp. Is your treatment just before the weekend? Then you can get an emergency number that can be reached at the weekend.
Practical tips
- After SkinPen, Morpheus8 and Tixel, keep your skin dry for the first 24 hours. After that, cleanse your skin with lukewarm water for the first few days and touch the treated skin as little as possible.
- Use a clean towel and change your pillowcase.
- If you are unsure, take a photo of your skin. Then you can show your therapist what you see.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to arrive without make-up?
No. You can simply arrive wearing make-up. We remove it at the practice before the treatment.
Can I go in the sun before the treatment?
Yes. You do not need to avoid the sun before the treatment. After the treatment, stay out of the sun as much as possible for the first 4 weeks and do not use sunbeds.
Which products count as active ingredients?
Products with retinol, arbutin, glycolic acid, salicylic acid or lactic acid, and self-tanning creams. They irritate the skin. Do not use them for 3 days before the treatment or for the first week afterwards. With Forma you can keep using them. Unsure about a product? Bring it to your treatment and we will have a look.
Can I go straight back to work after the treatment?
After Forma, yes: your skin is red and warm for a few hours at most. After the other treatments you can usually work as well, but bear in mind what is visible. After SkinPen your skin is red for about a day, after Morpheus8 for 1 to 2 days. After Tixel your skin peels for about a week, and after IPL or laser recovery can be visible for 2 days to 2 weeks. After a peel it depends on the strength. The overview at the top of this page helps you choose a moment that suits your schedule.
Can I shower or wash my face on the day of the treatment?
After SkinPen, Morpheus8 and Tixel, keep the treated skin dry for the first 24 hours and do not wash the treated area. You can shower, as long as the treated skin stays dry and the water is not hot. After the other treatments, cleanse your skin with lukewarm water for the first few days.
Is peeling normal?
Yes. After a chemical peel it depends on the strength: after a light peel you only see mild redness, after a medium peel your skin peels for 3 to 5 days and after a strong peel for 5 to 7 days. After a Tixel treatment the peeling starts after about two days and lasts about a week. After SkinPen your skin may flake and feel dry. Do not pick at your skin.
When can I wear make-up again?
That depends on the treatment. After SkinPen and Morpheus8, do not use make-up for the first 48 hours. After a Tixel treatment, keep your skin dry for the first 24 hours and then only apply a soothing cream. Ask your therapist when you can wear make-up again after your treatment.
When can I exercise, use a sauna or swim again?
After a chemical peel, Tixel, IPL or laser, avoid intense exercise, hot showers, baths and saunas for the first 24 to 48 hours. After SkinPen, avoid hot showers, saunas, swimming and baths for the first 48 hours.
Which sun protection should I use?
Use SPF 30 to 50 and reapply it every two hours. At the practice we have SPF products from Dermaceutic and Alpha-H. A cap or hat helps to limit sun exposure. After every treatment, stay out of the sun as much as possible for the first 4 weeks. Before the treatment this is not necessary.
Can I use my own skincare?
Products without active ingredients usually yes, but after SkinPen you only use the products from your treatment kit for the first 24 hours. Do not use products with active ingredients, such as retinol, arbutin and glycolic, salicylic or lactic acid, for 3 days before the treatment (except Forma) or for the first week afterwards. If you are unsure, ask your therapist.
What is in the kit I get after SkinPen?
Two products for the first aftercare. HG Lift is a hydrogel that protects the treated skin and keeps it moist. You use it for the first 24 hours, 2 to 4 times. After that you may apply the Rescue Balm, which calms the skin and helps reduce the redness.
My skin itches. Can I scratch?
No. Do not scratch or pick at the treated skin, including scabs or peeling skin. Itching is often part of recovery. If you get severe itching, a rash or spots in the treated area, contact us.
When should I contact you?
Red, warm or flaking skin is part of recovery. Contact us if the pain increases, if the redness or swelling increases after a few days instead of decreasing, if you notice pus, yellow or green crusts or a fever, or if blisters or open areas appear. You can reach us by phone, e-mail or WhatsApp.
Who do I call if something happens at the weekend?
Is your treatment just before the weekend? Then you can get an emergency number that can be reached at the weekend. Feel free to ask about it at your treatment. On weekdays you can reach us by phone, e-mail or WhatsApp.
This is general information. If your therapist has given you different advice, follow that advice.
Questions about your recovery?
Feel free to call, e-mail or WhatsApp us. We are happy to help.